Power converter

Abstract

In a power converter for converting AC power supplied from an AC power source or DC power supplied from a DC power source to DC power or AC power having predetermined voltage and frequency including at least one switching device ( 130 ) configured to be operable at high temperature, at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) configured to be operable at high temperature and having a capacitor ( 301 ) configured to be operable at high temperature is provided.

1 . A power converter for converting AC power supplied from an AC power source or DC power supplied from a DC power source to DC power or AC power having predetermined voltage and frequency, the power converter comprising:
 at least one switching device ( 130 ) configured to be operable at high temperature; and   at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) configured to be operable at high temperature and having a capacitor ( 301 ) configured to be operable at high temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 an operating temperature of the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is 150° C. or more.   
     
     
         3 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is a semiconductor device using wide band gap semiconductor as a primary material.   
     
     
         4 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 an allowable temperature of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) is 150° C. or more.   
     
     
         5 . The power converter of  claim 4 , wherein
 the capacitor ( 301 ) of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) is a ceramic capacitor.   
     
     
         6 . The power converter of  claim 4 , wherein
 the capacitor ( 301 ) of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) is a film capacitor using a high heat resistance material as a dielectric material.   
     
     
         7 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) includes a diode using wide band gap semiconductor as a primary material.   
     
     
         8 . The power converter of  claim 3 , wherein
 the wide band gap semiconductor is one of silicon carbide, gallium nitride and to diamond.   
     
     
         9 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 multiple ones of the at least one switching device ( 130 ) are connected in series to serve as a series circuit ( 170 ),   multiple ones of the series circuit ( 170 ) are arranged in parallel, and   multiple ones of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) are arranged so that each of the snubber circuits ( 300 ) corresponds to an associated one of the series circuits ( 170 ).   
     
     
         10 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) is arranged so that each of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) corresponds to an associated one of the at least one switching device ( 130 ).   
     
     
         11 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) and the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) are arranged in the same package.   
     
     
         12 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) and the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) are arranged on the same substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The power converter of  claim 11 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is directly connected to terminals of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ).   
     
     
         14 . The power converter of  claim 11 , wherein
 each of all of terminals of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) electrically coupled to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), or an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) via a heat spreader ( 510 ).   
     
     
         15 . The power converter of  claim 1 , wherein
 the power converter drives a drive motor ( 40 ) provided in a compressor ( 20 ) including a compression mechanism ( 50 ) for compressing a refrigerant, the drive motor ( 40 ) for driving the compression mechanism ( 50 ), and a casing ( 30 ) in which the compression mechanism ( 50 ) and the drive motor ( 40 ) are provided and which is filled with the refrigerant.   
     
     
         16 . The power converter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the compression mechanism ( 50 ) is configured to discharge a high-pressure refrigerant into the casing ( 30 ), and a discharge pipe ( 35 ) for causing the high-pressure refrigerant in the casing ( 30 ) to flow to the outside of the casing ( 30 ) is connected to the casing ( 30 ).   
     
     
         17 . The power converter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) and the at least one switching device ( 130 ) are arranged in the casing ( 30 ).   
     
     
         18 . The power converter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the drive motor ( 40 ) includes a stator core portion ( 42   a ) fixed to an inner wall of the casing ( 30 ) and insulating portions ( 42   c ) formed on end surfaces of the stator core portion ( 42   a ) in a direction along a shaft, and   the at least one switching device ( 130 ) and the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) are supported by the insulating portions ( 42   c ).   
     
     
         19 . The power converter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) and the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) are arranged between the compression mechanism ( 50 ) and the discharge pipe ( 35 ).   
     
     
         20 . The power converter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the compressor ( 20 ) is connected to a heat pump circuit including a refrigerant circuit ( 10 ) for performing refrigeration cycle by a refrigerant circulating.   
     
     
         21 . A power converter for converting AC power supplied from an AC power source or DC power supplied from a DC power source to DC power or AC power having predetermined voltage and frequency, the power converter comprising:
 at least one switching device ( 130 ); and   at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) including a capacitor ( 301 );   wherein   each of all of terminals of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) electrically coupled to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), or an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) via a heat spreader ( 510 ).   
     
     
         22 . The power converter of  claim 7 , wherein
 the wide band gap semiconductor is one of silicon carbide, gallium nitride and diamond.   
     
     
         23 . The power converter of  claim 12 , wherein
 the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is directly connected to terminals of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ).   
     
     
         24 . The power converter of  claim 13 ,
 each of all of the terminals of the at least one snubber circuit ( 300 ) electrically coupled to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) is directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ), or an interconnect member directly connected to the at least one switching device ( 130 ) via a heat spreader ( 510 ).